Founded in 1983, Rustic Pathways is a student travel company that runs supervised international programs for students ages 12–22, including service learning, cultural immersion, adventure, animal conservation, and gap year programs. Programs are designed for middle school, high school, and college students and are grouped by experience level, impact focus, and travel style so families can easily find the right fit.
New program dates are now available. Request the catalog to explore upcoming teen travel programs and destinations.
Explore All Program Types
Browse teen travel programs by focus, experience level, service hours, destination, or season.
- 2026
- Adventure
- Animal Adventures
- Base House
- Best-of Beaches
- College
- 15 Hrs Community Service or More
- Conservation
- Critical Issues
- Cultural Immersion
- First Time Travelers
- Homestay
- Language and Skills
- Language Immersion
- Limited Space
- New Programs
- Online
- Photography
- Popular
- Service + Adventure
- Service + Culture
- Service Intensive
- Sports
- Spring Break
- Uniquely Rustic
- Young Explorers
- Gap Block
- Gap Semester
What is Rustic Pathways?
Rustic Pathways is a student travel company that creates life-changing programs for students ages 12–22. Rustic Pathways offers immersive service-learning, adventure, cultural immersion, animal conservation, and leadership programs in 38+ countries, with 155,000+ alumni worldwide.
The company is headquartered in Mentor, Ohio with an office in Seoul, South Korea. The company operates chaperoned group flights from major U.S. gateway airports.
Rustic Pathways is a multi-award-winning youth travel provider, including International Travel Awards (2024) and a Skift IDEA Award (2024). Families choose us for 24/7 emergency support, a verified low student-to-leader ratio, and programs overseen by Medical Director Dr. Will Smith.
Rustic Pathways emphasizes transformational student travel and measurable impact through high impact service and learning outcomes.
Our Program Categories
New Programs
Be the first to experience new itineraries featuring emerging destinations and unique partnerships with local experts.
Popular Programs
Our most booked teen travel programs blend meaningful service with adventure and consistently earn 4.9/5 on GoOverseas.
First-Time Travelers
Beginner-friendly youth travel programs emphasize safety, structured support, and confidence-building for students new to international travel.
See First-Time Traveler Options →
High-Impact Service
Make a difference while earning verified service hours on educational travel programs, with 10–80 hours per trip, aligned with global development goals.
Discover High-Impact Service →
Animal Experiences
Work with trusted conservation partners on wildlife care and habitat preservation in destinations like Fiji, Greece, Thailand, and Costa Rica.
Best-of Beaches
Combine marine conservation and community projects with time on iconic coastlines.
Explore by Service Type
Filter by the focus that matters most to you.
- Community Health — Support health clinics and promote wellbeing.
- Education — Mentor students and assist in schools.
- Economic Development — Help communities create sustainable livelihoods.
- Environment & Conservation — Protect wildlife and preserve ecosystems.
- Cultural Immersion — Live with host families and experience local traditions.
Is Rustic Pathways Right for You?
- Ages 12–22 who want teen adventure travel programs, leadership, and cultural immersion.
- First-time travelers who benefit from chaperoned group flights and high supervision.
- Service-minded students who want verified hours for middle school, high school or college.
- Families who value industry-leading safety and global expertise.
FAQs
Can I filter student travel programs by age, destination, or length?
Yes. Use filters for age, destination, program type, service focus, and duration.
How many service hours are included in teen travel programs?
Most teen travel programs include 10–80 verified hours, typically averaging 25 per program, documented by a Rustic certificate.
What is the investment for teen travel programs?
Teen travel programs start at about $1,500 and include 24/7 supervision, in-country activities, meals, and insurance. Financial aid and scholarships are available.
Learn more about Rustic Pathways’ Travel for All initiative
Why Families Choose Rustic Pathways
- Safety & supervision. Verified low student-to-leader ratio and 24/7 emergency support on student travel programs. Won the Travel Weekly Magellan Award in 2024 for Health & Safety Innovations.
- Awards & press. Recognized by the World Travel Awards (2025) International Travel Awards (2024) and Skift (2024) for leadership and innovation in student travel.
- Impact. Deep community partnerships and clear student learning outcomes with annual impact reporting.
- Trust. Rustic Pathways is a leading student travel provider with a 4.9/5 rating on GoOverseas with more than 155,000+ alumni worldwide.
Seasonal Urgency
Winter and Spring programs are filling fast. Popular summer destinations typically fill early in the year. Save your spot to secure preferred dates and flights for your high school travel program. Don’t miss out.
- Learn more About Rustic.
- Review our Health & Safety approach.
- See our Impact strategy and reports.
Get Started
Request 2026 Catalog →
View All Student Programs →
Talk to a Travel Advisor →